The Sweater by Shiloh

I assure you that it was gold in color, at one time..
but the years have so aged the fibers,
killing the brilliance, fading the color, spiriting it away,...
and only memory shows it as it was, long ago.
And as to the color, if there was to be a name for that today,
it would be more of a yellowed, parched sand... dried and faded...
Sadly, the value of it as it was first intended,
was also lost to the years, as if destined to that end,
as it had become thinned, with gaps here and there,
giving the appearance of some small battlefield,
with holes in places, breaking up the gracefulness,
marring the original beauty,
as if bits of the memories attached to it
had been so violently removed,
as battles are wont to do, leaving only vacant depth
in place of what once was there.
Where once there was the promise of warmth,
now there was only the hint of the memory of that warmth,
but the original intent of that purpose
could still be seen, in the design that, somehow,
perhaps through sheer stubbornness,
still maintained the dignity of the shape,
as it was when it was first new.
Now it is but an emblem,-- a standard, if you will,
representing a long-sent signal from a near-forgotten moment...
...it is but a physical example of a small bit of time,
forever engraved in the mind of a traveler,
and has become a part of the bundle that he carries,
and has value that no other would recognize or understand.

as an afterthought...
"Perhaps it is not just about a piece of cloth...
but might it also be about life,itself,
of the journey, the adventures,
the destinations met and lost,
of the roads traveled,
and of what remains of the dreams
that first caused the traveler
to set his boots upon those roads...
it could be thus."

Terrye* (67.187.237.233) -- Monday, June 2 2008, 02:35 am

The Magic that it brings back to Life...
this is a beautiful write and very appreciative .i can relate to your words . i held on to a light coat that belonged to my husband. For me it carries many memories-only i know the history. one item i could not bear to part with, all though i believe there is magic in it's sleeves ,yet only for me.
"and has value that no other would recognize or understand."your Author's note explains it very well...

it is such a pleasure to read your work..

shiloh (66.24.112.118) -- Monday, June 2 2008, 02:48 am

thank you...
your comments are appreciated, and i am glad you like my thoughts.

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